John walked down
a dusty road,
under the strong
sun and heat,
looking for
someone who
could help him.
He was nine
years-old and
from a very poor
family that was
in extreme need
of money.

On his way to
the nearest
town, he was
mentally asking
Jesus for help
so he could earn
some money
because his mom
was sick and
needed to eat in
order to get out
of bed and
work.

So, little
Johnny, full of
good will,
hastened his
pace to reach
the town soon.

Upon entering
town, he found a
farmers’ market
with various
stalls where
they sold
vegetables,
potatoes,
cassava,
legumes, fruit
and grains, as
well as pastries
and cakes.

Excited, the boy
picked up the
pace and entered
the fair,
delighted with
the amount of
everything he
saw.

So much food! -
he thought. -
I'll ask the
stallholders and
hope they give
me some of their
surplus or that
they do not want
more.

Getting close to
a large and
beautiful stall,
he pleaded:

- Sir, our
family is poor
and my mother is
sick. Could you
give me
something to
take to my mom?
I come from far
and there, where
I live, there is
almost nothing
to eat! It has
been long since
it rained and we
have
nothing!...

But the marketer
had no pity and
cast Johnny away
with harsh
words:

- Go away, kid!
Do you think
that I have
worked so much
to give what I
got to bums like
you? Get away
from my stall or
I will give you
a kick in the
butt!

Johnny hung his
head with tears
in his eyes and
walked away
sad.

Three more times
the boy asked
for help to
merchants that
did not give him
anything.

Then he walked
to a tree that
had a small
shading area
where he could
hide from the
strong sun. He
sat in the shade
and watched the
other
stallholders.

Johnny thought:
What to do? He
did not have
anything to feed
his family at
home. How to
solve that
problem?

At that moment
the boy, in
tears, raised
his thoughts to
the higher
spheres asking
the help of
Jesus:

- Dear Jesus, I
am very sorry.
You know that my
mom is sick and
needs to eat, as
well as my
younger
siblings. Help
me, Jesus. I do
not need much,
just enough to
make a soup. I
know that You,
Lord Jesus, can
help me! Help
me, for mercy!

Johnny stood
there with his
head down,
crying. He knew
that Jesus would
not fail to
solve his
problem.

Suddenly there
was a beautiful
girl with blond
curly hair who
approached him
and offered him
some
vegetables.

- Take these,
they are for
you! - she said
with a beautiful
smile.

Stammering, he
replied:

- But I cannot
pay you!

- Do not worry.
Take them to
your home. They
are fresh and
were picked up
today!

So Johnny
thanked her:

- Thank you,
girl. I'm very
much obliged to
you. In fact, we
have nothing to
eat at home.
What you are
giving me will
be very good for
us, believe me.

- I'm glad you
liked it. They
are yours.

Johnny looked at
the girl and
smiled, asking
her name, to
what she
replied:

- My name is
Lucy. And
yours?

- Mine is John.
Lucy, you are a
very good girl.
I will say a
prayer asking
Jesus to bless
you for the good
you did today.
Maybe we can
hang out another
time?

John explained
to her where he
lived with his
family on a
place not far
away. They said
goodbye and he
gave her a warm
hug in gratitude
for her
kindness.

Lucy hugged him
back saying that
whenever he
needed it, he
could come for
vegetables,
fruit, and
anything they
needed because
her parents were
generous and
never refused
anything to
anyone.

And, looking at
the boy, she
said:

- We have also
been in a lot of
need, John.
Therefore, my
parents never
fail to help
those in need.

Johnny, before
leaving, said:

- Thank you,
Lucy. It was
Jesus who sent
you to help me!
Believe me, you
will always be
in my heart!

And Johnny
returned home
very happy and
thankful to
Jesus to have
found someone as
generous as his
new friend
Lucy.